Utility Maintenance Supervisor

City of Wasilla, AK; Alaska; On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Wasilla, AK seeks a leadership professional to direct the water and wastewater divisions, coordinating operations, maintenance, and regulatory compliance with state and federal standards. You will work with the Public Works Director to set goals, manage staffing, and ensure reliable service for the community.

Responsibilities include supervising staff, planning scheduling, coordinating with engineers and contractors, monitoring water production and sewer systems, and preparing department

Qualifications

• Public Works maintenance experience and knowledge of municipal utilities.
• Familiarity with state and federal regulations affecting water/wastewater.
• Experience with SCADA or related control systems.
• Budgeting and project management experience in a public agency.

Responsibilities

• Directs water and wastewater operations and staff.
• Plans and schedules projects with adequate staffing and equipment.
• Oversees SCADA operations and system set points for efficiency.
• Coordinates annual Consumer Confidence Report for water quality.
• Manages department budgeting, expenditures, and financial objectives.
• Ensures compliance with safety regulations and city policies.

Skills

Equipment operation

Budgeting & planning

Staff supervision

Safety compliance

Education

State Operator II - Water Treatment

Water Distribution Level III

Wastewater Collections & Treatment Level II

Job description

This position directs and coordinates the operations and maintenance of the water and wastewater divisions. Responsible for coordinating, planning, and directing the water and sewer operations, ensuring that programs and projects are performed in accordance with City standards and state/federal regulations.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

The following duties are essential for this position. However, they are not to be construed as exclusive or all‑inclusive. To be successful in this position, an individual must be able to perform each duty satisfactorily. Other duties may also be required or assigned.

• Collaborates with the Public Works Director to develop goals, objectives, plans, and programs for effectively managing water and sewer operations.
• Collaborates with the Finance Director for utility billing procedures and processes.
• Establishes and enforces department operating standards and controls to comply with state and federal statutes and regulations.
• Directs utility maintenance operations, coordinating activities with assigned staff and contractors as needed.
• Plans and schedules projects, ensuring adequate staffing and equipment to complete tasks efficiently and achieve productivity goals.
• Provides initial and ongoing training for staff, instructing employees in departmental methods, techniques, and safety practices while maintaining required documentation.
• Assigns tasks, monitors progress, reviews work, and provides performance evaluations. Recommends personnel actions, including transfers, promotions, disciplinary measures, and terminations. Approves time sheets and job assignment records.
• Manages water production and distribution operations, including controlling well production, storage reservoirs, booster stations, pressure reducing valves, and establishing new water service connections.
• Oversees wastewater collection operations, including lift stations, septage receiving facilities, grit separators, screen presses, aeration blowers, and new sewer service connections.
• Manages the water distribution system by scheduling tasks such as exercising valves, servicing fire hydrants, detecting and repairing leaks, and troubleshooting water pumps and electrical controls.
• Manages the sewer collection system scheduling tasks such as pumping septic tanks, exercising valves, repairing leaks, and troubleshooting sewer pumps and controls.
• Coordinates monthly utility billing operations, including communication with finance personnel, ensuring customer data accuracy, creating meter reading routes, tracking meter inventory, and managing workflows.
• Consults with engineers and manufacturers on equipment operation, maintenance, and new equipment design or modifications.
• Oversees SCADA system operations, establishing set points and ensuring efficient coordination between wells, pump stations, and pressure reducing valves for optimal service delivery.
• Plans and prioritizes maintenance and repair tasks in accordance with departmental policies, ensuring timely and accurate completion of work. Secures necessary supplies, materials, and equipment.
• Coordinates and prepares the annual Consumer Confidence Report for water quality compliance.
• Oversees daily and weekend rounds, including facility security checks, pump and well activity records, sample analysis, and necessary system adjustments.
• Supervises monthly meter reading operations, ensuring accurate data uploads and downloads into handheld units and computer systems.
• Directs utility service locates using record drawings and electronic locating equipment to identify buried infrastructure.
• Ensures all activities are conducted safely, adhering to City safety regulations and industry standards, including traffic control and work zone safety practices.
• Reports accidents and incidents to appropriate authorities, adhering to policies for reporting, investigation, and follow-up. May conduct incident investigations as assigned.
• Monitors expenditures, approves purchase requests, and manages financial objectives by preparing the annual maintenance budget, scheduling expenditures, and analyzing variances.
• Prepares written reports as required for departmental and regulatory purposes.
• Establishes and manages the on-call roster to ensure personnel readiness for maintenance emergencies.
• Performs other duties as assigned to support departmental objectives and operations.

Knowledge of:

• All phases of Public Works maintenance activities, heavy emphasis on area of assigned responsibility.
• Standard methods and procedures in the water and wastewater fields and the associated State and Federal regulations.
• Methods and techniques in the maintenance of municipal utility facilities and projects.
• Care and use of equipment and tools utilized in the performance of department functions.
• Safety precautions and potential hazards encountered in maintenance activities.
• Safe operations of heavy-duty trucks and equipment.
• Principles and practices of budgeting, fiscal management, project management principles and techniques.
  • Administrative policies and procedures of the City.
  • The City’s and Department’s operating requirements, policies, procedures, and practices; and local, state, and federal regulations related to department programs and operations.
  • Management and supervisory practices & principles, including the ability to make final employment recommendations, preparing performance evaluations, managing time-off, and maintaining personnel records.
  • Computer software including word processing, spreadsheet, database applications, and specialized software consistent for this position.

Skill in:

• Skill in researching and understanding complex written materials.
• Organizational and time management to prioritize duties while adapting to constant changes in priority.
• Researching and understanding complex written materials; maintaining accurate internal records.

Ability to:

• Operate basic vehicles, sewer pump truck, jetter vacuum, dump truck, front end loader, backhoe, and a forklift.
• Develop department goals and objectives.
• Effectively utilize the principles of strategic and long and short-range planning.
• Adapt and take control of situations, dictating subordinate activities in a responsible manner.
• Instruct and train in methods and procedures.
• Organize, assign, and modify the work assignment of others, and (re)-establish priorities to meet deadlines.
• Perform detailed work accurately and independently in compliance with stringent time limits with minimal direction and supervision.
• Apply sound judgment and discretion in performing duties, resolving problems, and interpreting policies and regulations.
• Communicate detailed and often sensitive information effectively and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Read, write, speak, understand, or communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position.
• Prepare and maintain accurate and concise records and reports.
• Maintain professionalism at all times.
• Use appropriate language, style and methods depending on audience and the purpose of communication.
• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing with business representatives, elected officials, department heads, the public, and other City employees with courtesy and tact.
• Maintain effective working relationships with individuals within and outside the organization.
• Maintain confidentiality and discretion regarding business-related files, reports and conversations, within the provision of Freedom of Information Act and other applicable State and Federal statutes and regulations.
• Work the allocated hours of the position and responds after hours if needed.

Minimum Certifications:

• State Operator level II certification in Water Treatment
• Level III certification in Water Distribution
• Level II certification in Wastewater Collections and Wastewater Treatment.
• Ability to pass State administered Backflow certification within twelve (12) months of-hire (may be extended with approval from Department Director)
• State of Alaska Class A or B Commercial Driver's License with Tanker endorsement preferred.
• Must provide a current (dated within 30 days of request) driving record obtained from the State of Alaska Department of Motor Vehicles.

Other Requirements:

• Experience operating mechanical devices, pumps, motors, and hydraulic pressures.
• Homeland Security orientation tests will be required as a term of employment; HC-100 taken on-line with 15 days of date of hire; HC-200, HC-700, and HC-800 tests to be taken on-line with 45 days of date of hire. Complete HC-300 and HC-400 training as it becomes available.